Apparatus for the handling of start sheets for electrolytic refinement of copper



Nov. 12, 1968 o c. G. WENNBERG ET AL 3,410,387

APPARATUS FOR THE HANDLING OF START SHEETS FOR ELECTROLYTIC REFINEMENT OF COPPER Filed Dec. 12, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 12, 1968 o. c. G. WENNBERG ET 3,410,337

APPARATUS FOR THE HANDLING OF START SHEETS FOR ELECTROLYTIC REFINEMENT OF COPPER Filed Dec. 12, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGS Nov.l2, 1968 o. c. G. WENNBERG ET 3,410,337

APPARATUS FOR THE HANDLING OF START SHEETS FOR ELECTROLYTIC REFINEMENT OF COPPER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 12, 1966 1958 o. c. G. WENNBERG ET AL APPARATUS FOR THE HANDLING OF START SHEETS F0 ELECTROLYTIC REFINEMENT 0F COPPER Filed Dec. 12, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 12, 1968 o. c. G. WENNBERG ET AL 3,410,387

APPARATUS FOR THE HANDLING OF START SHEETS FOR ELECTROLYTIC REFINEMENT OF COPPER Filed Dec. 12, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 6

United States Patent 3,410,387 APPARATUS FOR THE HANDLING OF START SHEETS FOR ELECTROLYTIC REFINEMENT OF COPPER Olov Carl Gustav Wennberg, Georg Lennart Konstantin Forsberg, and Stern Otto Svensson, Karlstad, Sweden, assignors to AB C J Wennbergs Mekaniska Verkstad, Karlstad, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Filed Dec. 12, 1966, Ser. No. 601,130 Claims priority, application Sweden, Dec. 17, 1965, 16,395/ 65 5 Claims. (Cl. 198-27) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to an apparatus for handling start sheets of electrolytic refinement copper. Said apparatus includes means by which the very thin sheets may be conveyed in a flat state to an apparatus in which the electrolytic process takes place, the flat state of the sheets being necessary to avoid short circuits in the electrolytic bath in which the sheets are suspended. The apparatus comprises a support pivoted to a horizontal axis extending transversely of the feed direction of said conveying means. The start sheets are fed onto that support when the latter takes a horizontal position and after they have been provided with suspension rods at one edge. They are turned up to a vertical position while resting in a flat state on said support and are received by a suspension conveyor above the beforementioned conveying means, and they are moved further suspended from the suspension conveyor by their rods. All means are constructed to avoid deformation of the sheets which maintain their flat state during the entire conveying operation.

Electrolytic refinement of copper is carried out in tanks in which the coarse copper in the form of anodes is decomposed by direct electric current. The circulating electrolyte consists of a solution of sulphur acid copper sulphate. At the same time pure copper is precipitated onto cathodes the main portion of which is a thin sheet of pure copper. These sheets together with suspension members attached thereto are termed start sheets. They are placed between the anodes and it is very important that they be as flat as possible. The impurities comprised in the anodes form a sludge which settles in the electrolyte tank. In another process gold, silver and selenium are recovered from this sludge. The result of the electrolysis depends to a great extent on the quality of the start sheets. Thus, an imperlfectly straightened start sheet could short circuit the tank, increase the risk of sludge infection and, because of irregular current density, affect the structure of the precipitated copper.

In a known apparatus for the production of start sheets the sheets are cut to correct size, straightened so as to be as fiat as possible and provided with lugs or hangers and cathode rods. The complete start sheets are placed in special stands in which they are automatically spaced apart corresponding to their spacing in the electrolytic bath. However, the known apparatus has a disadvantage which limits its capacity. The cut and straightened sheets of copper are advanced in this apparatus along a horizontal path. After they have been provided with hangers and cathode rods they are erected into vertical positions which they have to assume when they are hanging in the stand by means of which they are to be entered into the electrolyte tank. Transferring of the very thin start sheets from horizontal to vertical position is a delicate procedure which requires special devices and a flat support [for the sheets to prevent any deformation during the movement. In the known apparatus the start sheets advanced in hori- "use zontal positions are fed up to a table which is hydraulically operated and actuated by a motion mechanism by means of which the table for erecting the start sheet into vertical position is first lifted to a level above the path of movement and then turned in a horizontal position through whereupon the table is turned upwardlyforwardly about an axis parallel to the direction of feed such that the rods of the start sheets can be caught by a conveyor for further transportation. Therefrom it follows that the transferring operation comprises three steps and requires so long a time as to be the decisive factor in regard of the capacity of the entire apparatus. It is the main object of the present invention to simplify the transferring operation and thereby to increase the capacity of the apparatus. In this connection a further object of the invention is the provision of conveying means which after the transfer of the start sheets in accordance with the invention are adapted to catch and convey the start sheets in such a way that they can be rapidly collected in vertical positions.

In its broadest aspect the invention is characterized in that the flat support or table to which the start sheets are fed up is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis so as to enable the start sheet to be turned and suspended, which axis extends transversely of the direction of feed of a main conveyor by means of which the start sheet is fed to and up to the table. Due to this arrangement two of the three steps 'for transferring the start sheet into vertical position in the known apparatus can be entirely eliminated. The support for the start sheet need not be raised above the path of movement nor need it be turned through 90 in a horizontal plane before it is turned upwards.

The apparatus may be supplemented with a suspension conveyor from which the upwardly turned start sheets are suspended and which is movable in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the main. conveyor and extends above the main conveyor. Consequently, the path of movement of the suspended start sheets is parallel to the direction of advance prior to the suspension of the sheets and not at right angles thereto as in the case of the known apparatus. As a result floor space can be saved.

The suspension conveyor may be of any suitable construction, but it should be provided with hooks or the like members adapted to catch the start sheets by clasping their cathode rods after the start sheets are in their vertical positions so that they will be suspended from these hooks for further transportation. Cam members may be provided for guiding the start sheet and its rod into a position in which the rod can be easily caught by the hooks.

The apparatus may further comprise a collecting station for receiving a group of vertically suspended successive start sheets after the sheets have left the suspension conveyor. This collecting station may be provided with an unloading device for transferring the group of start sheets from the collecting station to a magazine or stand by means of which a suitable number of start sheets can be moved to the electrolyte tank. This collection and transfer in groups may be effected entirely automatically and increases the capacity of the conveying means in accordance with the increased speed of the procedure for transferring the start sheets into vertical positions.

Additional aspects of the invention will appear from the following description of an embodiment illustrated in the annexed drawings which do not show the part of the apparatus in which the sheets are cut and provided with suspension members, because this part may be of conventional construction. FIG. 1 illustrates a motion diagram,

FIG. 1a a perspective view of a sheet resting on a table, FIG. 2 a plan view and FIG. 3 a lateral elevation of the improved part of the apparatus. FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevation of the table for transferring a start sheet into vertical position together with successive conveying 3 means. FIG. is a vertical sectional view along the line 5--5 in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view along the line 6-6 in FIG. 4.

Each start sheet consists of a thin sheet 1 of copper and suspension members in the form of looped strips or lugs 2 and a rod 3 extending through the lugs. The lugs or hangers are attached to the sheet by means of rivets 4 (FIGS. 5 and 6).

As will be seen from the motion diagram shown in FIG. 1 a start sheet which in horizontal position has been provided with suspension members is erected from this position by being turned about a horizontal axis 5. Then the start sheet is advanced in vertical position suspended from the rod to a collecting station in which the start sheets are collected in a group 6. The group is lifted and conveyed to a magazine 7 which can receive a great number of groups. The various movements are indicated by the arrows 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.

By means of a main conveyor substantially consisting of two endless chains 14 and 15 the start sheets are fed up onto a horizontal table 16 pivotally mounted about a shaft 17 which is mounted in the frame 31 of the apparatus and extends at right angles to the path of movement of the sheets. The main conveyor is shown in the drawing in chain-dotted lines and comprises driving front wheels 19 keyed onto a shaft 23, FIG. 4, which also carries a small pulley 20 for a driving belt 21 which runs about a pulley 22. Mounted on the shaft 24 of the pulley 22 is a ratchet wheel 25 which forms part of a stepping mechanism actuated by the piston 26 of a hydraulic cylinder. By means of the pulleys 22, 20 and the belt 21 the stepping movement of the shaft 24 is timed such that the chains of the main conveyor are intermittently advanced a distance which is equal to the sum of the length of a start sheet 10: shown in FIG. 4 and the distance between this sheet and the next following start sheet 11). Consequently, a start sheet will be fed up to the swinging table 16 during each step of the stepping mechanism. The table 16 is provided with a channel 3a in the top side thereof for accommodation to the rod 3, and the rod rests in this channel while the table is being swung from its horizontal position to its vertical position, whereby the sheet 1 is supported in a flat state also during this movement.

Disposed on either side of two vertical beams 30 forming part of an upper structure on the frame 31 of the apparatus is a cam member 32 having an upper cam face 33. This cam face projects forwardly and is tangent to the path of movement of the lower side of the rod 3 appertaining to the start sheet which from horizontal position is turned backwardly-upwardly into vertical position. The ends of the rod 3 project beyond the longitudinal edges of the start sheet and slide on the cam faces 33 at the end of the upward turning movement. The table 16 is turned by means of a hydraulic cylinder 34 the piston 35 of which is pivotally connected to the lower side of the table 16.

Mounted on horizontal beams 36 forming part of the upper structure of the frame is a suspension conveyor comprising a pair of chains 37 having hooks 38 mounted thereon. The endless chains 37 run about sprocket Wheels 39, 40 mounted on shafts 41 and 42, respectively. At least one of these shafts, preferably the shaft 41, is connected to a driving device, not shown. In operation of the suspension conveyor the lower parts of the hooks are passing immediately below the rod 3 of the start sheet which by means of the table 16 has been swung upwards into vertical position. As shown in FIG. 5, the chains 37 are located comparatively near each other so that the hooks will grip the rod 3 at places between the lugs or hangers 2. The sheets 1 are freely suspended from the books 38 while they are conveyed, above the table 16 which has returned to its horizontal position, to the collecting station 6. At the entrance to the collecting station there are provided guide cams 43 to which the rods are fed up by the hooks 38 and from which they are moved to a chain conveyor which is provided at the collecting station 6 and by means of which the start sheets suspended from the rods 3 are advanced. The conveyor chains 37 and the collecting conveyor are actuated stepwise and alternately in such a way that the chains 37 are stationary while the collecting conveyor is advancing one step.

The collecting conveyor consists of a pair of endless chains 45 which run about sprocket wheels 48, 49 mounted on shafts 46, 47. Mounted on the shaft 47 of the sprocket wheel 49 is a wheel 50 which through a belt or chain 51 is driven by a wheel 52 of a stepping mechanism which is actuated by a piston 53 reciprocating in a hydraulic cylinder 54. As will be seen from FIG. 6 the rod 3 of the start sheet rests on the chains 45 near its ends. When the start sheets are collected on the chains 45 they are equally spaced apart. After sufficiently many sheets have been transferred to the collecting conveyor 45 they will be conveyed therefrom into a magazine.

The start sheets are transferred to the magazine by means of an unloading device consisting of a carriage the wheels 55 of which run in grooves 56 provided on either side of the start sheets outside the chains 45. Mounted in the sides 57 of the carriage is a pair of shafts 58. Secured to these shafts are a lever 59 and a longitudinally extending lifting rod 60 which at its lower end has a projection 61 which extends inwardly below the ends of all of the rods 3 in the collecting station. There are provided two shafts 58 and two levers 59 in the form of bell cranks. One arm of each bell crank extends upwardly, and the two upwardly extending arms are connected with each other by means of a link 62, FIG. 3. This link is pivotally connected to the piston of a hydraulic cylinder 63. At 64 the cylinder is pivotally attached to the frame of the carriage. If the piston moves out of the cylinder 63, i.e. to the right as viewed in FIG. 3, the bell cranks are turned clockwise and the lifting rods 60 are raised with the re sult that their projections 61 will be moved from below into engagement with all of the rods 3 of the start sheets which will be raised in the collecting station. At the top of the frame of the apparatus there is mounted a bearing bracket 65 for one end of a hydraulic cylinder 66 the piston 67 of which is pivotally connected to a lug 68 on the frame of the carriage. After the unloading device has lifted all of the start sheets in the manner indicated all of the sheets can be transported at the same time by the carriage to the left, as indicated by the arrow 11 in FIG. 4, into the position shown in chain-dotted lines. At this place there is provided a conveyor 70 consisting of two chains and driving sprocket wheels. This conveyor is associated with the magazine 7 into which the start sheets are dedelivered whereupon they are ready to be inserted into the electrolyte tank.

The magazine consists of a framework having uprights 71, horizontal beams 72 and struts 73. In this framework the conveyor 70 is disposed such that the start sheets which have been moved onto this conveyor by means of the carriage in the collecting station will be suspended from the upper reach of the conveyor 70 and successively advanced thereby until the entire magazine has been filled. The conveyor 70 is driven by a change gear 74 which is actuated by a stepping mechanism 75 including a hydraulic cylinder 76 and a piston 77. This driving device is shown on the left-hand side in FIG. 3.

The electric or other equipment required for coordination of the working movements of the various hydraulic cylinders may be of any conventional type and forms no part of this invention and is therefore not described.

In the embodiment illustrated the start sheets are fed up to the suspension conveyor in the same direction in which they are moved by the main conveyor. The suspension conveyor is located vertically above the swinging table. However, additional floor space can be saved if the suspension conveyor is running in the opposite direction in which case it is located on the right-hand side of the table as viewed in FIG. 3. In that case the collecting station and the magazine would also be located on the right-hand side and the apparatus would work in two stories.

What we claim is: l

1. Apparatus for the handling of start sheets for electrolytic refinement copper, comprising an infeed conveyor for horizontally advancing sheets, a table mounted for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis that extends transversely of the feed direction of said conveyor, means for swinging the table vertically about said axis, an upper conveyor having means thereon for receiving sheets swung up by the table, suspension means on said upper conveyor for suspending the swung-up sheets from said upper conveyor, and a bunching conveyor for receiving and grouping sheets from said upper conveyor.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said axis being disposed adjacent the rear of said table with respect to the direction of feed of said inf'eed conveyor, whereby the forward ends of said sheets with respect to said direction become the upper ends of the sheets when the sheets are swung upward.

3. Apparatus as claimd in claim 1, said suspension means comprising hooks, and cam means engageable with upper portions of the upwardly swung sheets to guide the sheets into a position in which they can be caught by the hooks.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and means for transferring a group of said sheets as a group from said bunching conveyor to a magazine.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, said bunching conveyor comprising an endless conveyor from which the sheets depend, said transfer means comprising parallelogram link means engageable with the sheets to lift a group of sheets from the bunching conveyor and to transfer the group of sheets to said magazine.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,943,530 1/1934 Hoefl'leur 21491 3,057,453 10/1962 McAlpine 19833 FOREIGN PATENTS 299,222. 8/ 1965 Netherlands.

EDWARD A. SROKA, Primary Examiner. 

